Construction Equipment Operators

Background

Each year the military completes hundreds of construction projects. Tons of earth and building materials must be moved to build airfields, roads, dams, and buildings. Construction equipment operators use bulldozers, cranes, graders, and other heavy equipment in military construction.

What They Do

Construction equipment operators in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

Dig holes and trenches using power shovels
Drill wells using drilling rigs
Drive bulldozers, roadgraders, and other heavy equipment to cut and level earth for runways and roadbeds
Lift and move steel and other heavy building materials using winches, cranes, and hoists
Operate mixing plants to make concrete and asphalt
Place and detonate explosives
Remove ice and snow from runways, roads, and other areas using scrapers and snow blowers
Spread asphalt and concrete with paving machines

Physical Demands

Some specialties require normal hearing, color vision, and heavy lifting.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

Interest in operating heavy construction equipment
Preference for working outdoors

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

Shop mechanics

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Construction equipment operators work outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions. They often sit for long periods and are subject to loud noise and vibrations. They may work indoors while repairing equipment.

Services offering this career:

Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of four to 12 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice operating construction equipment.

Course content typically includes:

Maintenance and repair of equipment
Operation of different types of construction equipment

Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian construction equipment operators work for building contractors, state highway agencies, rock quarries, well drillers, and construction firms. Civilian construction equipment operators may also be known as operating engineers, heavy equipment operators, well drillers, or riggers.

Related Civilian Careers

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 10,000 construction equipment operators. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new equipment operators due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. With time, operators have the opportunity to become construction supervisors or construction superintendents.